30 Rock and Mad Men have been named as the leading comedy and drama contenders at this year's 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

The NBC sitcom starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey has secured a mention in 22 categories, including outstanding comedy, lead actor in a comedy and lead actress in a comedy.

Mad Men, set in a 1960s advertising agency, has landed 16 nominations, including outstanding drama, lead actor in a drama for Jon Hamm and lead actress in a drama for Elisabeth Moss.

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Other comedy programmes that will be battling it out this year include Entourage, Flight of The Conchords, Weeds, The Office, How I Met Your Mother and Family Guy, which became only the second animated comedy ever to be honoured.

Mad Men will face competition in the drama categories from shows including Big Love, Dexter, Damages, Breaking Bad, House and Lost.

This year's event has also introduced a new category for the best variety programme, which sees The Late Show With David Letterman and The Colbert Report among the nominees, while American Idol and Dancing With The Stars have secured outstanding reality show nominations.